Male connector contact



g- 1964 J. A. NAVA ETAL MALE CONNECTOR CONTACT Filed Aug. 6, 1962 INVENTORS as /7 4. 0V0

f)! w M 24kg ATTORNL ZS United States Patent 3,143,386 MALE CONNECTOR CGNTACT Joseph A. Nave, Villa Park, and Henryk W. Meresz, Chicago, 111., assignors to The Pyle-National Company, Chicago, Ill, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 214,978 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-252) This invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly to a pin contact for use in a separable current-continuing means comprising elongate inner and outer portions at one end separated by a discrete clearance and wherein the outer portion has an axial split formed therein to render the outer portion defiectable radially inwardly within the limits prescribed by the clearance, the inner portion controlling the maximum deflection and preventing overstressing.

In most separable connector designs, particularly in heavy current types, either the male or the female contact is split and sized to exert pressure on the opposite member. This is generally deemed desirable in connector design in order to improve the efficiency of the joint both electrically and mechanically.

By splitting one of the contact members, weaknesses are inherently introduced in that the split member is less able to successfully withstand shock. For example, if the split member is mishandled during fabrication or in use, it may be subjected to such shock as to adversely aifect the sizing of the member. Thus, the shock may induce a permanent set in the tines of the split member and in such a direction as to cause a loss of continuity.

The normal abuses of usage also subjects the tines of a split member in a separable connector to such a degree of stress as to result in a loss of continuity.

Some practitioners in the art have attempted to overcome such weaknesses in the split members of separable connectors by reducing the width of the slot or groove used as the axial splitting medium. It will be appreciated, however, that the ultimate limits on the reduction of slot width are dictated by practical manufacturing considerations. Production methods of economically cutting optimum size slots are not available and do not appear to be feasible within presently known manufacturing techniques.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a male connector contact or pin is provided which exhibits structural and functional characteristics which overcome the deficiencies of constructions heretofore provided. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the male connector contact or pin has a current-continuing outer portion formed as tines for mating association with a female connector contact, thereby providing a cross-section in each tine of the male connector contact which exhibits balanced stresses in the outer fibers on every face. This provides stability of the tine and results in uniform insertion and extraction forces.

Further, the male connector contact or pin of the present invention is particularly characterized by the utilization of a separate pin portion centrally disposed of the contact and exhibiting a predetermined clearance to the bore of the tines so as to control the maximum radially inward deflection of the tines and preventing overstressing thereof.

The end of the inner pin portion is relieved sufficiently inwardly of the end of the male connector contact to preclude welding of the tines during current rupturing.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a pin contact for use in a separable connector providing increased resistance to bending moments without loss of continuity.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro- 3,143,386 Patented Aug. 4, 1964 2 vide an improved contact construction for use in a separable connector which will exhibit resistance to shocks in the 500 G to 700 G range without loss of continuity.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pin contact for use in a separable connector exhibiting chararteristics of radial deflectability, but which will afford resistance to current rupturing Without welding of the components.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pin contact exhibiting radial deflectability and wherein automatic sizing is effected.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of a separable connector is shown by way of exemplification of the invention.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the male connector contact provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention with par-ts broken away and with parts shown in cross-section and also showing fragmentally a female contact of a separable current-continuing means with which the male or pin contact may be associated in a connector; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view enlarged in scale and taken on line IIII of FIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in FIGURE 1, a male connector contact or pin contact is shown generally at 10 and is adapted to be mated with a female connector contact or socket shown generally at 11. The female contact 11 has a socket recess 12.

The male connector contact comprises a generally cylindrical member which is elongated and which has a coupling portion 13 at one end suitably recessed as at 14 to receive the bared end of a conductor Wire shown generally at 16 and including an insulation sheath 17. An inspection aperture 18 is formed in the coupling portion 13 to facilitate checking the proper insertion of the hated conductor wire into the recess 14.

A pair of longitudinally or axially spaced annular peripheral shoulders 19 and 26 are formed on the peripheral surface of the male connector contact 10 for developing a utilitarian function in the event the male contact 19 is assembled in a contact carrier of a multiple contact current-continuing means such as a separable connector.

At the opposite end of the male connector contact 10 there is formed a mating portion 21. In this particular form of the invention, the mating portion 21 takes a cylindrical shape and is of somewhat reduced diameter than an abutment shoulder 22 spaced axially inwardly thereof and separated from the mating portion 21 by a tapered shoulder 23. It will be understood, of course, that the mating portion 21 could be other geometrical shapes so long as it accomplished a mating relationship with a corresponding socket recess 12 of a female connector contact 11.

At the extreme end of the mating portion 21, there is formed a radial end face 24. There is also formed a tapered or divergent wall 26 forming a finder end on the male connector contact 10 which facilitates mating the pin with the corresponding female contact part.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the male connector contact 10 is particularly characterized by the formation therein of a bored recess 30 which extends axially inwardly from the end face 24 and into the shoulder 22 terminating at 31.

For a substantial portion of the length of the mating portion 21, the bored recess 30 is counterbored as at 32.

A separate pin 33 is inserted into the bored recess 30.

The pin 33 is selected to have a size such that there will be a good interference fit in the bored recess 39, thereby placing the pin 33 in firm assembly with the male connector contact 10. To facilitate interconnecting the parts, the end of the pin 33 may be provided with a tapered pilot portion shown at 34.

The pin 33 extends outwardly into the counterbore 32. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the size of the counterbore 32, relative to the peripheral surface of the pin 33, is such as to form a predetermined annular clearance 36. Thus, there is, in efiect, formed inner and outer pins or inner and outer portions formed respectively by the pin 33 and the mating portion 21.

The outer pin or outer mating portion thus formed is axially split as at 37. By virtue of the provisions of the present invention, the width of the split or slot 37 may be such as to be within regularly available commercial production capabilities. Moreover, the axial extent of the split or slot 37 is such as to render a substantial length of the mating portion 21 radially deflectable. In the illustrated form of the invention, it will be noted that the split or slot 37 terminates sufficiently short of the innermost end of the pin33 and thus, outwardly of the shoulder 22 so the pin 33 may be press-fitted in a hole which has no slots, thereby being held in place mechanically.

The bore in the center of the contact creates a cross-section in each tine resulting from the splitting of the outer contact portion 21 so that balanced stresses are exhibited in the outer fibers on every face. Accordingly, stability of the tine is insured and uniform insertion and extraction forces result.

The separate pin 33 in the center of the contact 10 having a predetermined clearance 36 to the bore of the tines controls the maximum radially inward deflection of the tines, thereby preventing overstressing. Moreover, since the pin 33 and the bored recess 3% enjoy an interference fit, automatic sizing is effected upon assembly.

While it is desirable from a stress standpoint that the pin 33 be as close to the end face 24 as possible, it is desirable that there be sufficient clearance to prevent the tines from welding during current rupturing. Accordingly, the pin 33 is relieved sufiiciently with respect to the end face 24 to preclude welding of the tines during current rupturing. In this regard, it will be noted that the pin 33 is provided with a radial end face 38 spaced from the end face 24 by an axial spacing dimension identiiied at 39 and representing the optimum clearance distance. 7

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A pin contact comprising an elongate generally cylindrical male contact member having one end formed to effect a coupling connection with a conductor wire,

the opposite end of said contact member comprising a mating portion having a uniform outer peripheral surface and adapted. to be inserted in a female contact,

said mating portion having an annular recess extending axially inwardly from the end thereof to divide the mating portion into inner and outer concentric pins,

said outer pin being axially split to form tines radially defiectable within the limits of said recess,

said inner pin having its outermost end relieved axially inwardly sufficiently to prevent welding of the tines during current rupture.

2. A pin contact comprising an elongate generally cylindrical male contact member having one end formed to effect a coupling connection with a conductor wire,

the opposite end of said contact member comprising a mating portion adapted to be inserted in a female contact,

said mating portion having a bore recess extending axially into the end thereof,

said bore recess being counterbored through a substantial portion of the axial length of said mating portion,

a separate reinforcing pin in said bore recess and extending outwardly into the counterbored portion, thereby to form inner and outer concentric pins,

said outer pin being axially split to form radially inwardly deflectable tines,

said inner pin preventing overstressing of said tines, said inner pin terminating sufficiently axially inwardly of the end of said outer pin to prevent welding of the tines during current rupturing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,187 Meschenmoser Nov. 16, 1915 2,456,764 Bach et a1. Dec. 21, 1948 2,851,669 Koch Sept. 9, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,308 Switzerland June 16, 1942 

1. A PIN CONTACT COMPRISING AN ELONGATE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL MALE CONTACT MEMBER HAVING ONE END FORMED TO EFFECT A COUPLING CONNECTION WITH A CONDUCTOR WIRE, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONTACT MEMBER COMPRISING A MATING PORTION HAVING A UNIFORM OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE AND ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED IN A FEMALE CONTACT, SAID MATING PORTION HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS EXTENDING AXIALLY INWARDLY FROM THE END THEREOF TO DIVIDE THE MATING PORTION INTO INNER AND OUTER CONCENTRIC PINS, SAID OUTER PIN BEING AXIALLY SPLIT TO FORM TINES RADIALLY DEFLECTABLE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF SAID RECESS, SAID INNER PIN HAVING ITS OUTERMOST END RELIEVED AXIALLY INWARDLY SUFFICIENTLY TO PREVENT WELDING OF THE TIMES DURING CURRENT RUPTURE. 